Zoots Cafe

Rated this place:

1438 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J1Y6

Not Much to Say: Totally agree with jeaniemac.Everytime I went in, I just felt super awkward. Coffee was ok... Went in on a Saturday for some takeaway brunch, but was told at 10:50am that they didn't serve breakfast until 11am. Worst.

Reggie's Old-Fashioned Sandwiches

Rated this place:

571 King St. W, Toronto, ON, M5V 1M1

24-Hour Sandwich Shop: UPDATE: Unfortunately I'm changing my review. For the first few months of Reggie's being open, they were pretty fantastic. Now, it seems like quality control has been thrown out the window. I heard people talk of inconsistency before, but never had a problem. However, the past 3 times I've gone in and ordered the exact same thing each time and every time it's been completely different. If you can't even make a salad consistent, then there are problems. I really love the staff and I really want to love this place again, but things need to be fixed before that can happen.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sandwiches
• smoked salmon sandwich
• Roasted Turkey Sandwich

Spectacle

Rated this place:

752 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1E9

Perfect Glasses: Found the perfect pair of eyeglasses here. Service was great, and they spent a lot of time trying to find me the glasses I was looking for. They gave me honest feedback and weren't afraid to tell me if something didn't work. These people know their stuff. Only things I can't bitch about is price, apparently their prices are a bit steep (heard from a friend), but you really can't put a price on perfection.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Designer Eyeware
• eyewear

Not My Dog

Rated this place:

1510 Queen St. W, Toronto, ON, M6R 1A4

Tasty Brunch: Met some friends here for brunch this past weekend and I was really impressed with everything about this place. Food was fantastic and affordable. Rancheros came with plenty of avocado and eggs and was perfectly seasoned. Coffee was strong, which for me is a good thing, and the company was pleasant. Service was great. Our server was chatty and a pleasure to have around! Great sense of humor and very relaxed. My friends all ordered the eggs benedict, which apparently is their signature dish with daily specials (asparagus and grilled shrimp was the special when we went) and they were all extremely satisfied!Back patio is great, nice and sunny with lots of fresh herbs around that are used in their kitchen, as well as making the patio smell amazingly fresh.Will be going back again... and again... and again.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• patio
• brunch
• service
• rancheros

The Hen House

Rated this place:

1532 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• LGBT
• thai vegetable soup
• walnut lentil sandwich

Dark Horse Espresso Bar

Rated this place:

215 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON

It's Just Ok.: Unfortunately, I have to disagree with GizelleLau. While the interior and atmosphere is great and seems promising, the espresso is just ok. I gave Dark Horse a few tries, and each time I was let down. The staff is great and very friendly, which definitely wins them points, however I find some of the clientelle super snotty and ruined each visit I've had. Honestly, it's probably better than the rest of the coffee in the area (maybe not Gourmand), but I feel like this place has been given way too much hype than it really deserves.

Epicure Cafe

Rated this place:

502 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V2B3

Top Five: Epicure has got to be in my top 5. I've never had a bad experience here, from their pizzas to their sandwiches, you can't go wrong!Great place to go for lunch if you've got a bit of extra time, and fantastic for a late dinner. Soups are phenomenal as well as their pizzas (some of the best I've had, srsly.) Service is friendly and attentive. Great place to take a date!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Pizza
• date restaurant
• Grilled Salmon Club

If Lounge

Rated this place:

1212 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M6J1X5

Fantastic Brunch: I tried this quiet brunch spot on Dundas last weekend and was blown away. After passing by this place almost everday for the past year, I was quick to write it off as being a crappy, ultra-hip bistroesque lounge; I was wrong. The food was quick, delicious and satisfying. I ordered a fairly simple mozza, tomato and basil sandwich, which was served on a warm, soft panini. However, the real show stopper for me, was the roasted garlic and red pepper potatoes. Moist and crispy, and seasoned to perfection, I would almost go back for the potatoes alone. My dining partner ordered the open faced egg and chorizo sandwich, which was also a hit. Not to be missed are the sweet cinnamon and cardamom scones. Served with soft butter, they were the perfect follow up with some fresh coffee.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• brunch
• Roasted Potatoes
• cinnamon cardamom scones

Niagara Street Cafe

Rated this place:

169 Niagara St, Toronto, ON, M5V1C9

Great Place for Intimate Dining: Went here with my boyfriend for my birthday and it was a great experience from start to finish. The sever was knowledgeable and unpretencious about selecting a wine (all I know is I like red) and recommended some great cheeses to finish the meal off with. The roasted chicken with butternut squash risotto was absolutely delicious. Tender, flavourful and satisfying. The meal was reasonably price for the quality (everything is local and mostly organic.) Looks like they have a pretty badass patio in the summer as well.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Roasted Chicken
• Rustic Lamb Soup

Over The Rainbow

Rated this place:

101 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON, M5R1C1

Not the Best: Staff is lousy and clothes are overpriced. You can get the same jeans elsewhere for much cheaper. Staff is not interested in helping you and probably couldn't recognize APC denim if their life depended on it. The best thing about Over the Rainbow is that for some people, they have everything they want all in one place. Myself? I'd rather go to 3 different stores all across town from each other to get proper service and reasonable pricing for the same brands.

Banjara Indian Cuisine

Rated this place:

796 Bloor St. West, Toronto, ON, M6G 1L7

Title: Banjara is definitley my go-to for Indian food in the west end. I typically order things extra spicy and they are perfect (if you can take heat.) Although the food is amazing, the best part about Banjara is that they deliver.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• shrimp vindaloo

Monsoon Lounge & Sushi

Rated this place:

140 Dunlop St. E., Unit 101, Barrie, ON, L4M6H9

Krispy Sushi: I don't need to say much else: They used Rice Krispies in place of tempura bits.

Jonathan+Olivia

Rated this place:

49 Ossington Ave, Toronto, Toronto, ON, M6J 2Y9

Designer Menswear: Just north of Queen on Ossington, Jonathan+Oliva has a great selection of designer clothing for both men and women. With limited options for brands like A.P.C., Acne and Oliver Spencer in Toronto, Jonathan+Oliva has done a great job of bringing all these brands together under one roof. Sales help is always willing to give advice and present other options for you. Prices are a little bit more than other stores in Toronto that sell the same brands, but it's worth coming here for the unpretentious, knowledgeable staff.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Shirts
• shoes
• menswear
• Denim

Fox Theatre

Rated this place:

2236 Queen St E, Toronto, ON, M4E1G2

Great Atmosphere: One of the best old cinemas in the city. Great decor and vibe!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• movie theatre
• Rep Cinema
• second run cinema

Java House

Rated this place:

537 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2B6

Great Deals: I have to be honest, Java House is not all that great. The food is mediocre to fair and the benches are damn uncomfortable. However, all that aside, Java has some of the cheapest beer/food+beer deals I've seen. For example, on Thursday, you can order an entree and a beer for less than $10. Amazing!Great for big crowds; my friends and I are constantly trying to find a place that will host our semi-regular DS nights, and Java is a perfect place for this; it's cozy, the staff are super friendly and it's cheap to get drunk and fill your tummies.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• brunch
• coffee
• beers
• cheap
• cheap beer

Pickle Barrel Restaurant & Catering

Rated this place:

2300 Yonge St. (Yonge-Eglinton Centre), Toronto, ON, M4P1E4

Not That Good: Menu is way too huge.. it's about 20 pages. The options all sound mediocre, and they are. Sandwiches are premade, as noted by a server when asked if I could have it without mayo. And for some reason, everytime I've gone, the staff has been really creepy. There are so many better places to go for dinner/lunch/whatever with your family or friends in the city. There's no need to settle.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Bellini

Sydney's

Rated this place:

795 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1G1

Men's Clothing: Honestly, katg summed it up perfectly. Every item at Sydney's seems like it's been hand selected based on quality and style. I haven't seen anywhere else in the city that offers the quality that Sydney's offers. Great selection of raw denim at reasonable prices.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Men's Clothing Store
• Men's shirts
• Denim

The Common

Rated this place:

1071 College Street, Toronto, ON, M6H 1B2

Cappuccino: Best cappuccino in the city, hands down. Staff is very friendly and after only two visits, they already know what I want when I walk in!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• coffee
• cappuccino
• Cappucino

The Fish Store & Sandwiches

Rated this place:

657 College Street, Toronto, ON, M6G1B7

Fresh Fish: They always have great daily fish specials. Tuna is delcious, always fresh and tasty! Seasoned to perfection!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• fish sandwich

Toshi Sushi Japanese Restaurant

Rated this place:

565 King W, Toronto, ON, M5V1M1

Delicious: Toshi is my go-to for delicious sushi. There are so many terrible sushi restaurants in the area (I'm looking at you, Sushi Xtra, Aji Sai and Sushi To Go), but Toshi delivers fresh, flavourful and well-made sushi. My favourite is the kamakaze roll and spicy salmon handroll. For dinner they have a variety of tasty apps where green onions wrapped in thinly sliced beef take the top spot.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sushi
• hand roll
• nabeyaki

Old School Muay Thai

Rated this place:

266 King St. West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1H8

Muay Thai: Great place to learn muay thai and have a great workout! Classes are available Saturday to Wednesday and range from small to large depending on the day of the week. The instructors are very approachable and understand that everyone is at a different skill level and help everyone along the way. Convenient location downtown, good group of people and a great workout make this a fave!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Muay Thai

Fred Perry

Rated this place:

964 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1G8

Classic: Fred Perry has always been a classic. Their gingham print shirts are top quality. Killer deals when things go on sale (usually 70% off.) Great selection of men's and women's clothing. Staff is friendly and do a great job of remembering their customer's wants and needs!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Gingham Shirts
• Men's Clothing

Grain, Curd and Bean

Rated this place:

1414 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J1Y5

Great Selection: Only open for a few months now, GCB has a great selection of cheese from across the globe. They also offer a bunch of great local products, such as homemade crackers from a woman who lives just down the street. The space is great and they have lots of room to read or work quietly. They have a bunch of toys as well so you can feel free to bring your kids with you and stay for a while. The don't offer food as of yet, but it is something they plan on offering in the future. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and are always willing to offer samples to help make your decision.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• coffee
• cheese
• fresh bread
• Chevre Noir
• local products

Cachet Restaurant and Bar

Rated this place:

500 Water St., Newmarket, ON, L3Y 1M5

No good: Went here a while ago for lunch with my family to celebrate my sister's birthday and the whole experience was a mess. The staff was rude and impatient. I can understand impatience if the restaurant was busy, but there were only 2 tables. A bee landed in my wine, so I asked for another glass. When the server returned, my mother made a joke about just picking it out with a fork, and the server admitted that that was all she had done. We sat there stunned for a few seconds and realized she was totally serious. I asked for a fresh glass to which she replied "We'll have to charge you for both. Sitting on a patio this kind of thing is expect." Hrm, not really. The food was mediocre at best. The presentation was lame lame lame. Just because you can arch two lamb chops together doesn't make the food tasty, or you creative. Fail.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Not a whole lot.